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John Heywood (1808-87), Writer, Printer and Postmaster

The following is taken from a 1907 Heywood Advertiser article by John Albert Green:

'John Heywood, printer and postmaster, was born in 1808. He
was at first a piecer, but soon after his marriage set up in business as a
bookseller and stationer in a cottage opposite the Lamb Inn, York-street. He
removed to a better position near the Wesleyan Chapel, Market-street, and added
printing to his other business. His name appeared on the Religious, Literary, and Temperance Advocate for 1839. About this
time he commenced to issue in parts The
Sunday School and General Reciter, of which several volumes were published.
He was also the printer of works by Samuel Bamford, and was very friendly with
him.

Mr. Heywood issued the Heywood
Observer, monthly, in 1847-8. This was an eight-page miscellany, and
contained hardly any news, but sometimes an article on the bygones of Heywood
was inserted, probably written by the publisher. He composed the well-known
hymn ‘Sabbath schools are England's glory,’ which is still sung at the annual
gatherings of Sunday schools. He was very fond of telling how pleased he was on
the occasion of a festival in Halifax, when he heard his hymn sung by the many
thousand children present. The following interesting account of the genesis of
the hymn is from the pen of the author's daughter:

‘The hymn, "England's Glory," was written under
the following circumstances: It was composed during a morning service in Bethel-street
Chapel. I do not remember who was the preacher, but it was not the resident
minister. I sat by my father's side in the orchestra, and during the sermon the
preacher began to speak of the good done by Sabbath schools, and by and bye he
warmed to his subject, and, throwing up his arms, exclaimed, "Sabbath
schools! they are the glory of England!!" My father turned to me with a
quick, bright smile, and immediately drew from his pocket a mall memorandum
book, having some blank pages, and - with a lead pencil - at once began to
write the well-known hymn. In a few moments the first verse was written, and he
shewed it to me; we both smiled; and he went on writing - and thinking. I don't
think he heard much more of the sermon. I believe the hymn was finished the
same day, and at once found favour with everyone, and was in a few days' time
set to music. He wished to make it popular, so conceived the idea of issuing it
at a penny per copy, which at that time was quite a novel idea. It was the
first Sabbath school hymn sold at that price. It has been sung in every quarter
of the globe. My father also wrote a hymn, "Come to Jesus," which was
printed on the same sheet in all the original editions. I am sorry I do not
possess a copy of this. Nottingham. JANE BROOKS.’

He was for nearly half-a-century prominently associated with
the political, religious, and musical life of the town. It has been said that ‘his
power to draw out the musical faculties of children was remarkable, and called
forth frequent praise from preachers of the annual sermons.’ For nearly forty
years he was choirmaster of Bethel-street.

He founded the Heywood
Advertiser in 1855, and conducted it with varying success until 1878, when
it was sold to the present proprietor.

Mr. Heywood had a good memory, and could tell some excellent
stories when in the humour. As a writer of dialect he has left us a few capital
examples. The best of these is entitled ‘A Yewud Chap's Trip to Manchister to
see Prince Halbert, th' Queen, an' th' Art Treasures Eggshibishun.’ By ‘Oud
John’ Heywood: Printed for the author by John Heywood, Post Office. 1857...’
There is a copy of this pamphlet, which is now very scarce, in the Heywood Free
Library. It is contained in a volume of pamphlets relating to the Manchester
Art Treasures Exhibition, 1857. He had the true poetic instinct, one of his poems
on "St. Luke's Old Church" having had an extensive circulation
locally…

For over thirty years he was the postmaster of Heywood, and
resigned in 1885. He died in Seymour-street, Heywood, on July 13th, 1887, and
was interred at Heywood Cemetery. "Sabbath schools are England's
glory" was sung in remembrance of John Heywood at the evening service on
the occasion of the Sunday school anniversary, Bethel-street, August 21st,
1887, the Rev. Marmaduke Miller being the preacher.

J. A. GREEN.'

(Letter to the 'Primitive Methodist Leader', 1 February 1906).

Works authored by John Heywood

The Sunday school and general reciter, containing
select poetry and dialogues.
Vol. 1. 1841. John Heywood, printer.

The Juvenile Annual; or Youthful miscellany for the
year 1846. John Heywood,
printer.